Daily Inspiration: Meet Caroline May

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline May.

Caroline, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always loved clothing and fashion but did not fall in love with sewing until one day in class we had a project to create a small PAPER quilt. My 8-year-old head went straight to wanting to make a real quilt for this project. Which I did, having never touched a sewing machine before. This became a trend in school that whenever I could sew or create something I would. Just to go above and beyond what my teachers expected to see from their students. Slowly, sewing garments became something that I spent all my time doing outside of dancing, work and homework. I made dresses for homecomings, proms, dance recitals and anything else I wanted but couldn’t find in store. When it came time to decide to go to college, I was not always set on going to school for fashion. I was between fashion design or biochemistry. So similar – Right? But eventually I decided that creating was not just a passion, it was what I needed to do.
I went to college at the University of Delaware and received my BS in Fashion Design and Product Innovation and a minor in Sustainable Apparel and Textile Innovation. During my time at University of Delaware, I was selected to do research on corsets and 1920’s garments, and a study abroad in Paris – participating backstage during Fashion Week in 2 menswear brands (Walter Van Beirendonck and Sean Suen). I even had an internship with Elie Saab, one of my favorite designers. This was a dream come true, being able to see how a couture house functions behind the scenes and seeing those meticulously made garments up close and in my hands was an experience I will never forget. I also participated in many fashion shows my college organized where I won several awards for my designs, including “Most Marketable” for my senior bridal collection.
After college I moved to Greensboro to gain more experience working with a customer designer Cassidy Burel (CassB by Design). She was a wealth of knowledge and allowed me to see how one would run their own business and create a business anywhere. With her, I got to work on more couture sewing skills like hand beading and appliqué and work with fabrics that I had not worked with in the past. I participated in the Big Hair Ball in 2024 (a fundraising event for Family Service of the Piedmont), winning awards for my design for ”Best Emerging Artist” and “Best Emerging Brand”.
Currently I am working as a Technical Designer, while growing my own custom business May’d 4 U in any free time I have. I create garments ranging from giant tulle ball gowns to character outfits. My ultimate goal is to never say no to a client due to the type of garment they want. If they want a leather jacket – done! A Sabrina Carpenter look-a-like garment – absolutely! A fully hand beaded and rhinestoned dress – sign me up!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The path that I have been on to get where I am now has been ever changing and led me to some unique opportunities but has not always been easy. As I mentioned earlier I have always loved fashion and sewing but did not think that was what I would want to make a career out of. Fast forward to now, and I am loving every minute of making my dreams come true one project and client at a time. It was difficult to go through school during the pandemic. I was sent home halfway through my freshman year, and we were left to figure out hands-on learning online. Learning very tactile and visual skills online proved to be difficult and make learning less enjoyable for me. So, I learned outside of the classroom making my own projects and using my skills that way. But throughout that I learned to adapt and persevere because if you don’t try then you won’t succeed.
Other challenges I have faced since starting up my brand has been figuring out social media and what people want to see. I have never been a person that posts all the time on Instagram, but to market my brand, I need to consistently post and interact with followers. It has been a struggle for me to edit videos and come up with content that isn’t the same thing over and over again. I have learned a lot but still have a long way to go.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work consists of creating custom garments that are truly one-of-a-kind that make my clients feel beautiful and confident. This could be anything from a fun party dress to a wedding dress or a pageant gown. Along side client work I create beautiful garments for myself for events or other designs that I dream up. My goal is to create stunning garments that make those wearing them not have to worry about what if my strap breaks or have to pull their dress up all night. That all comes down to the pattern making, fit and construction. Which are 3 things that I strive to perfect through every fitting and step of the garment creation.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I am fortunate and grateful that I have people around me that support me and my decisions, including my parents, friends, and teachers. My parents have always supported me even when that meant moving 8 hours away to a state where I knew no one for an opportunity from a designer I met on Instagram. My first sewing teacher helped me realize that designing was something that I had to pursue as a career and not just do it for fun, but to make it my life and go for it. CassB, the designer I met on Instagram has also been a huge supporter of mine, helping me gain my footing here in Greensboro, recommending me for fashion shows and other opportunities. She has also shown me how to run a small custom business along with all her tips and tricks she has learned from her many years in the industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mayd4udesigns.myportfolio.com/welcome
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayd.4.u
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinermay

Image Credits
photographers: arcDeco, Pinacle Photos
Models: Katie Murray, Onyx Parker, Lindsey McGraw, Alexia Brown